Issa Rae Is The Co-Owner Of A New South L.A. Coffee Shop

“I’ve always wanted a coffee shop in my neighborhood,” said Rae.

This year has been nothing short of epic for Issa Rae. The Los Angeles native launched a record label in partnership with Atlantic Records and she also stepped into the tech industry by investing in a startup owned and operated by a Black woman. Rae is continuing her mission of using her platform and resources to empower and uplift her community. According to Los Angeles Magazine, she is the co-owner of a new coffee shop in Inglewood.

Opening the eatery—dubbed ⁠Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen—was a collaborative effort between Rae, Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan. Aware of the lack of Black-owned coffee shops, the entrepreneurs were determined to create a safe space for the community that cultivates innovation, creativity, and collaboration. It was also created to provide jobs for individuals in the local community. The coffee shop, which officially opened its doors earlier this month, serves a variety of healthy food options, coffees and teas. Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen is a 3,500-square foot space.

“I’ve always wanted a coffee shop in my neighborhood,” Rae said in a statement. “Coffee shops facilitate productivity in so many ways, they facilitate collaboration. I personally have done all of my writing in coffee shops. So it always disappointed me that there weren’t any that were Black-owned, people of color-owned in my neighborhood.” Hagos and Relan have deep roots in Los Angeles. “Yonnie Hagos actually grew up around the corner from the location and Ajay is also from the L.A. area,” Hilltop Marketing Manager Tara King told the Los Angeleno. “So for them both, this is the place that they grew up in. They definitely wanted to invest in their own community.”

Over the past year, there has been a rise in Black-owned cafes in the South L.A. area including Leimert Park’s Hot and Cool Café, Sip & Sonder in Downtown Inglewood and Jefferson Park’s Red Bay Coffee.

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On Sunday night, Zozibini Tunzi made history by being crowned Miss Universe, capping the sweeping year Black women have had in top beauty pageants around the world.
According to CNN, Tunzi, representing South Africa, earned her win by excelling in rounds of evening gown and swimsuit struts, answering questions on social issues and expressing why she wanted to be crowned the winning title.
"I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me — with my kind of skin and my kind of hair — was never considered to be beautiful," she said. "I think it is time that that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine."
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Tunzi joins an impressiveroster of Black women who have been owning the pageant world this past year. Eighteen-year-old Kaliegh Garris won the crown of Miss Teen USA, while 28-year-old Cheslie Kryst took home the title of Miss USA 2019. Finally, Nia Franklin won the title of Miss America.
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This year's Miss Universe was held at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta and Steve Harvey hosted once again. Although the event was successful, it wasn't without some controversy and slip-ups.
First, Harvey had another mixup, although it wasn't as disastrous as his 2015 confusion where he called out the wrong winner. This time, Harvey — who sported a very memable bedazzled green and gold suit jacket — commented on a costume from earlier in the week, saying Miss Philippines won the National Costume Contest. However, the woman standing next to him corrected him saying it was Miss Malaysia who won that contest. "Y'all got to quit doing this to me," Harvey, ever the comedian, responded.
Prior to Sunday night, controversy also occurred because Miss Jamaica wore a dress named after an infamous slave owner. Nineteen-year-old Iana Tickle Garcia was photographed in a white feathered dress and the Rose Hall Jamaica Twitter page tweeted, "Miss Universe Jamaica's Costume Name: Annie Palmer - Legend of Rose Hall. Iana Tickle Garcia is rocking this!"
The dress got immediate backlash. Tourism website Jamaica Travel And Culture explained that Annie Palmer was a white woman who was deemed the "White Witch of Rose Hall." She is described as "an accomplished practitioner of Haitian Voodoo and during her reign at Rose Hall murdered three husbands and countless slave lovers. Her reign of terror was ended when she was murdered by one of her slaves and a ritual was carried out to banish her spirit from earth. However, it is rumoured that the ritual was not carried out correctly and that Annie still haunts the Rose Hall estate.”
Eventually, the Miss Universe Jamaica Organization issued a statement saying it "never sought to glorify slavery, nor promote witchcraft or any of the folk tales Annie Palmer has been accused of." Instead they just wanted to "tell the story of another part of Jamaican history without endorsing, glorifying or celebrating her deeds or the atrocities of slavery." Many people were still upset that the organization didn't issue an actual apology.
Despite the missteps, a celebration was to be had for Miss South Africa's major win. Check out some gorgeous photos of the new Miss Universe Winner below!